THE PATRON SAINTS OF GARDENING 43 



The Legend of St. Phocas, Patron of 

 Gardeners and Sailors. 



St. Phocas lived towards the end of the third 

 century, near the gate of Sinope, a city of Pontus. 

 He obtained his living by cultivating a garden, 

 in which he grew flowers and vegetables; and, 

 according to tradition, everything he grew flourished 

 exceedingly, and was much more prolific than 

 under other people's cultivation. 



There is a statue of St. Phocas at St. Mark's, 

 Venice, where he is portrayed as of a fine and 

 muscular build, with a flowing beard, and dressed 

 as a gardener, holding a spade. 



Finally, he died for the Faith, being martyred 

 during the Diocletian persecution in the year 303. 



It came to the ears of the heathen rulers that 

 Phocas was a Christian, and lictors were at once 

 sent out to search for and kill him. But they were 

 unable to find his house, and came there all un- 

 knowingly for shelter, little guessing it was the 

 house of Phocas. He gave them food and hos- 

 pitality, as was his wont in the case of all strangers 

 and wayfarers, and when he asked their errand, 

 they said they were looking for one Phocas, a 

 Christian, and begged his help. The holy Phocas 

 invited them to rest there that night, promising 

 to be their guide the next day. After they had 

 gone to bed the saint went out and dug a grave 

 for himself amongst his own beloved flowers, and 

 then prepared his soul for death. 



The morning came and the saint's guests were 

 ready to depart, when he stayed them by saying 

 they need go no further, as he was Phocas, for whom 



